Part of our Portugal guide.
Plan a Madeira tour or a Sintra day trip using the itineraries below.
Related travel guides: Beaches In Portugal, Hiking The Madeira Island Ultra Trail (MIUT): 115km In 4 Days, and Madeira Currency & Cost Of Living Guide.
20 Best Tours & Day Trips On Madeira Island
Madeira Island is a Portuguese archipelago in the Atlantic. The best way to see its cliffs, waters, and villages is by guided tour. Options include levada walks along the island’s historic irrigation channels, jeep safaris into the Laurissilva forest, and boat trips to spot dolphins and whales. Many tours depart from Funchal and last between four and eight hours. For a full-day experience, consider the western route stopping at Porto Moniz’s natural swimming pools and Cabo Girão, one of Europe’s highest sea cliffs. If you are interested in hiking and the outdoors in Portugal, the Pico do Arieiro sunrise trek is a popular choice. Private guides can be arranged for small groups, and lunch is often included. Book at least a week in advance during peak summer months.
How To Plan A Sintra Day Trip
Sintra is a 40-minute train ride from Lisbon’s Rossio station. The town sits in the Sintra Mountains and contains several UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the Pena Palace, the Moorish Castle, and the Sintra National Palace. To avoid crowds, arrive before 9:30 AM and buy your Pena Palace ticket online in advance. The palace’s exterior mixes Gothic, Renaissance, and Manueline styles, and the view from the ramparts stretches to the Atlantic. From the town center, take the 434 bus up the hill to the palace; it runs every 15 minutes and the ride takes about 15 minutes. After touring Pena, walk 20 minutes downhill to the Moorish Castle, then continue to the National Palace in the town square. Lunch options include the traditional queijadas (cheese tarts) at Casa Piriquita or a meal at a tasca on Rua das Padarias. If you have extra time, visit Quinta da Regaleira, known for its grottoes and the Initiation Well. For advice on how much to tip a tour guide in Sintra, 5–10% of the tour cost is standard for a private guide. Return trains to Lisbon run until late evening, with the last departure around 11:30 PM. To not look like a tourist in Portugal, avoid wearing hiking boots in town; comfortable walking shoes are fine, and a light jacket is useful even in summer due to the mountain breeze.
